A THIRD gang member has been banned from a Tyneside neighbourhood for taking part in a street brawl.

The violence broke out on Churchill Street, Howdon, North Tyneside, in April last year when two rival groups fought each other with weapons including machetes and swords.

Around 16 people were involved in the fighting, which resulted in a 23-year-old being stabbed in the chest.

In February, the offenders were jailed for their actions. Among them was Christopher Terrance, of Bowness Avenue, Battle Hill, who was given an 18-month jail sentence when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court. The 24-year-old was described as a foot soldier in the fight.

Now Terrance has been banned from Howdon and Willington after North Tyneside Council obtained an anti-social behaviour injunction against him.

Similar orders have been made against two other gang members within the last month.

At North Shields County Court, Lynne McGonnell, representing Terrance, questioned whether the two-year injunction was justified.

She said: “My client has served a custodial sentence. He was released on February 6 and is currently on licence, subject to conditions.

“He is on a Thinking Skills programme. I have spoken to his probation officer who tells me he is complying with all his conditions. He is avoiding the lads that he went into criminal behaviour with.

“It is for the council to justify that the two-year period is appropriate.”

Prosecutor Peter Rowbottom said: “I do accept that he served his sentence and was released. But that does not undermine the seriousness of the whole matter.

“The council quite clearly wants to protect its residents from the likes of Mr Terrance. We are not seeking punishment. We are seeking to prevent future occurrences of things like this.”

Deputy District Judge Tina Bond agreed to make the order, which also included a ban from Hadrian Park.

After the hearing, Colin Boxshall, the council’s safer estates manager, said: “We take prompt, appropriate and decisive action to deal with anti-social behaviour and apply robust processes for managing such cases.

“Others serving prison terms for the violent disorder will face similar injunctions upon release and, if they are a tenant, eviction from their home.”